February #ChildrensClassicRead2023
THE BOOK SERIES IS WRITTEN BY TWO AUTHORS: A FATHER AND HIS SON.
Jean de Brunhoff was working as a painter in France when his two sons brought to him a story of a resilient elephant who runs away to the city after his mother is shot by a hunter.
Jean published The Story of Babar in 1931 and wrote seven books about the elephant.
His son, Laurent de Brunhoff, eventually took over the family character after his father’s death—even when his mother said there would never be another Babar book—
and published an additional 35 Babar books.
BABAR HAS FACED SOME CONTROVERSY.
In East Sussex, England, the Babar books were removed from library shelves because of their portrayal of black Africans, which some critics deemed racist. Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman leads a movement of thought against the books because, according to The New York Times, he sees Babar’s story as “a lesson in colonialism with racist overtones.” For his part, Laurent agrees with Dorfman’s assessment and has even asked the publisher to withdraw more problematic stories.
I read countless articles and had quite a few conversations regarding this book. It has been fascinating and I have learned so very much.
